Tag: 33 Weeks pregnant.

Another uneventful week really, me and my son have been having fun in his first couple of weeks of his summer holiday, we have been painting, playing with play-dough and we have a trip to Thomas Land planned.

I haven’t got any appointments until the 9th, which is the first time in a long time that I have gone over a week without an appointment, so the next week isn’t going to be that busy either, thankfully!

About baby this week:

Your baby now weighs about 2kg and measures up to 44cm from head to toe. He may already be getting ready for birth by turning upside-down. His head should be pointing down, ready for her journey into the world.

Your doctor or midwife will be paying careful attention to your baby’s position in the coming weeks. Some babies do decide to turn back round again.

Your baby’s skull is still quite pliable. The plates of bone that make up his skull have not completely fused. This is so he can ease out of the relatively narrow birth canal, the passage between your cervix and the opening of your vagina. But the bones in the rest of her body are hardening. Your baby’s skin is also gradually becoming less red and wrinkled as fat builds up underneath.

If you’re a first-time mum, your baby’s head may move into your pelvis this week and press firmly against your cervix. This happens for about half of all first-time mums. If you’re a second-time mum, you can expect this to happen a week before labour. For some, this won’t happen until the start of labour.

You may notice that your feet and ankles are quite swollen by the end of the day. Water retention, also known as oedema, is often worse in warm weather and late in the day. Surprisingly, keeping hydrated helps reduce water retention. Your body, particularly your kidneys, and your baby need plenty of fluids, so drink up. If you suddenly feel swollen or puffy in your hands or face, however, call your doctor – it may be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

Make life easier for yourself now. Stock up on basics, everything from tins to tights, before shopping becomes too much of a chore. Cook up extra portions to freeze ahead for the early weeks. You’ll be glad you did when your baby’s arrived.

Make sure you and your partner have all the important numbers on your phone – your midwife, doctor and the labour ward. If you have pets and older children, arrange for someone to take care of them. Then you’ll be able to focus on just yourself and your baby when the time comes.

If you’re worrying about money, try not to spoil your maternity leave fretting. Work out if you’re budgeting enough for your baby. There may also be benefits which you can apply for to help you manage.